Walton, West Yorkshire

Walton is a village in the county of West Yorkshire, England, near Wakefield. It is on the Barnsley Canal and includes Walton Hall, West Yorkshire, the home of Charles Waterton, the man who made Walton Hall into the first nature reserve in the country, and who invented the bird nesting box.

The village of Walton is part of the Wakefield Metropolitan District in the County of West Yorkshire. The village is about 5.5 kilometres (3.5 miles) to the south of the City of Wakefield between Sandal Magna and Crofton.

It is a pleasant village, although not particularly picturesque, with a bit of a history, a few fine old houses, some good farmland and leisure areas close at hand. Walton is still (just about) surrounded by countryside, although the spread of new houses from Wakefield, and development within the village itself, seems set to continue.

Although administered by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (the "single tier authority"), Walton also has its own parish council that represents the interests of the village and deals with a limited range of local matters.

Public transport is provided by local Metro trains, the nearest station is at Sandal and Agbrigg, with Intercity trains at Wakefield Westgate. There is also a regular bus service to Wakefield and Crofton and beyond. Walton lost its own railway station in the early sixties, around the time that the English railway network as a whole was decimated during the Beeching cuts ordered by the government of the day. The old Midland line, where the station was located, to the west of the village (by Greenside), is still in use as a goods line and for the testing of trains. The station has gone but the village is still bounded on three sides by the remnants of the once extensive railway system. Indeed, the existence of the railway tracks around the village is considered to have helped Walton preserve its identity and fend off its absorption by the nearby city.

At one time, it was a mining village with pit shafts situated between Walton and Crofton on what is now the Walton Colliery Nature Park. The Walton pit (Sharlston West) closed before the Miners' Strike of the 1980s.

History

In the beginning....The name "Walton" is fairly common in England - there are several villages and districts with the same name. One of the origins of the name is as a reference to a "village of the Welsh" or serfs. The Welsh being the native Britons living in what we know know as England. When the Romans left and the Romano-Britons had to fend for themselves, the Angles, Saxons and Jutes arrived from the area now known as Germany and the Netherlands to occupy large areas of the former Roman province.

A settlement was already in existence when the Saxons arrived in the 7th century. The name has changed over the centuries from Weala-tun in Saxon days, through Waleton in the Domesday Book, Waton later in Norman times, settling on Walton in the Middle Ages.

Around 620 AD, Eadwine (or Edwin), a warlord of Norse descent invaded Deira (an area now roughly equivalent to West Yorkshire). Eadwine invaded the kingdom of Elmet (the name is still in use in places such as Sherburn-in-Elmet), and occupied the small settlement of Weala-tun (Walton). The Norsemen or Vikings played a significant part in the history of Yorkshire.

More on place names: Many local place-names have interesting derivations: Haw Park Woods and Hare Park both owe their origin to the word "hay", which means a hunting ground or paled park. A "pale" is a pointed stake or fence post, it also described an enclosed area. Haw Park was part of the Walton Hall estate, but when Charles Waterton built the wall around Walton Park, Haw Park remained outside. The word "hay" appears on tombstones in St. Helen's Church, Sandal Magna, the parish church for Walton. However, the word ‘hay’, in this context, has long been corrupted to Haw and Hare.

Bergh or Berg, as in the old quarry, is probably connected with the early Lords of Walton, the de Burghs. Walton (together with Cawthorne) remained in the possession of the De Burghs for seven generations. It then passed with the co-heiress of Sir John de Burgh to Sir William Ashenhull, whose heiress (Constance) conveyed it to John Waterton in 1435 when they married. Thus Charles Waterton's connection with Walton is long established. The Berg Quarry was the source of the stone used to build Walton Hall and the wall. The old quarry is to the west of Overtown Grange Farm.

In 1333, Thomas de Burgh received a licence to fortify his mansion at Walton, and to surround it with a stone wall built with mortar and to crenellate it. A crenel or crenelle is an indentation or gap in the parapet of a castle, wall or tower, from where the defenders could fire arrows or throw spears, etc., at unwelcome visitors. Thomas died shortly after receiving this licence, and before the work had proceeded very far.

1435: Following the marriage of Constance Assenhull to John Waterton from the Isle of Axeholme, Lincolnshire. A hall was built at Walton for the couple. It was a crenellated building of considerable size and boasted an oak panelled hall of around 27 metres (90 feet) in length. The Water Gate at Walton Hall is the only part of the original building still standing. It is the oldest building in the village.

In 1479, Robert Waterton inherited the Waterton estates in Lincolnshire and Walton. He was knighted in 1482 by Richard, Duke of Gloucester but died the same year.

1540, Sir Robert Waterton is known to have owned the three hamlets of Middle Walton, Nether Walton and Upper Walton.

17th Century Overtown Grange Farm and Rose Farm were both built. These are the oldest surviving buildings in the village, apart from the remains of the Water Gate at Walton Hall. Priory Square - there must also have been a priory at Walton at some time, most likely during Medieval times. The house at the north west corner of Priory Square may have been part of the original malt kiln belonging to the priory. The Priory Estate was once owned by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem.

The Civil War: In 1643 Parliament ordered Lords and Landowners to pay towards the expense of war. In 1644, Parliamentary troops enforcing this demand marched upon Walton Hall, then the home of Anne and Robert Waterton. While they waited, one soldier went to Walton village to fetch a keg of beer. When he returned, an occupant of the Hall fired a cannon ball from a small cannon or culverin at him and wounded him in the thigh.

In 1722, Charles Waterton, the grandfather of Squire Charles Waterton, granted a lease for 199 years, at a pepper-corn rent, of two cottages in the village to be used as a school and dwelling for a schoolmaster, provided that two poor children from the village were taught free of charge. The other scholars would be taught at their parents' expense. These cottages were in Shay Lane to the west of Walton House (now called Walton Manor). The houses were rebuilt in 1824 at the expense of the inhabitants of Walton.

In 1767, Thomas Waterton, demolished the original Walton Hall and caused the present large Georgian mansion to be built in its place. So it was built on an island in a lake of 30 acres (120,000 m²). Under the porch is a life-sized otter with a pike in its mouth, the crest of the Watertons. On the front of the house is the Waterton coat of arms and an otter with a pike in its mouth. The original drawbridge approach to the house was replaced by an iron footbridge - still the only permanent link between the island and the shore. The park extends 260 acres (1.1 km²) and is surrounded by a high wall, up to 2.75 metres (about 9 ft) in height, much of which survives to this day - although largely ruined to the east of the Park. This extends the three miles round the Park and cost £10,000 - a huge sum in those days. There is one gate in the east, where a rough track headed towards Crofton, and two in the west - one for The Avenue over Walton Hall Bridge, and a smaller gateway by Lock 15 at the Barnsley Canal summit.

3rd June 1782 - Charles Waterton (the Squire) is born at Walton Hall. Later to become a famous naturalist, a noted explorer and national,as well as local, celebrity.

1770s or thereabouts, Walton House, Shay Lane built for Elias Wright (it is thought). He was a local land agent and engineer. Later, the house was owned by Squire Charles Waterton for a time. The house is now called Walton Manor and is a private care home.

1790 Walton Lake was dredged, and the cannon ball from the 1644 siege was found and ‘preserved’ at the gateway. Later, the Squire marked the dents caused by cannon shot fired at the Water Gate's sturdy wooden doors.

In 1790, Catherine Nevile, from Chevet, bequeathed £140 to be used for the establishment of a free school in Walton or neighbouring Chevet. In addition to providing the salary of the schoolmaster, four poor boys and four poor girls of Walton, and two poor boys and two poor girls of Chevet (to the west of Walton), were to be instructed in the English language. This endowment was bestowed upon the existing school.

27/09/1793 Work started on the Barnsley Canal at Heath.

08/06/1799 The Barnsley Canal was opened from Barnsley to the River Calder at Heath, passing by Walton Park, and through Walton at Soap House and Low Town. Later the canal was extended westwards from Barnsley to Barnby Basin. Thomas Waterton was a member of the canal committee. There were 12 locks on the Walton section, with a further three at Heath. The canal summit is just north of Walton Hall Bridge at Lock 15 - the remains of which are still visible. Temporary accommodation was built at Stoneheaps Plantation for the canal navvies.

1799 The Commons and Wastes Inclosures Act defined and recorded areas such as Walton Common, Walton Green, Greenside and Uppertown Green. Sandal Magna and Crigglestone also get a mention in this Act.

During the 19th Century Five Schools were in use: 1. Between the War Memorial and the Methodist Chapel in Shay Lane, a building of two rooms was used. Billy Armitage taught the boys and his wife taught the girls. 2. 1837 A school was carried on by Mr Atha in detached buildings on The Balk. The ground floor was a school and the upper room a Methodist Chapel. 3. A school between Walton House and Walton Grange was kept by Tommy Lumb, a cripple who lived at Overtown Farm and came to school on a donkey cart. 4. A school was kept by Jacky Sharpe where Walton Grange outbuildings are now. 5. When the Midland Railway was being constructed, the Company had offices in buildings near Grove House in The Balk. These are also believed to have later housed a school.

Six public houses or ale houses existed: 1. The New Inn, still there today. 2. Cross Keys This was marked on 1849-1851 Ordnance Survey Map at the corner of Shay Lane and Blind Lane (School Lane). Now replaced by houses. This was a near neighbour of Grove House. 3. The Star, this was on School Lane on the site of the present Junior School, which was built in 1910 and officially opened in 1911. 4. The Rose and Crown. This was 36 metres (about 40 yards) down Walton Station Lane (then known as Milnthorpe Lane). 5 Boot and Shoe This had a temporary licence during the construction of the railway. It was a half-timbered house, formerly known as Walton Old Hall, situated near the lodge house for Walton Grange. 6 There was a beer house on Greenside which was frequented by canal navvies. The house fell into disrepute by the locals, however, and it became rowdy.

In addition, there were a number of unlicensed premises, permitted by the Beerhouse Act, 1830, to sell beer.

The population grew from 315 in 1801 to 745 in 1901.

1830 The age of steam - many railway lines were built. The first station was by Oakenshaw Lane, though Sandal and Walton station was soon built at Greenside. School Lane by the present post office was then called Station Road. The station was axed during the Beeching cuts of the 1960s. Back in the 19th century, many of the railway navvies lived in huts of sods on Shay Lane.

1830 Squire Waterton's son Edmund Waterton was born. His mother, Anne, died shortly afterwards and was buried at St. Helen's, Sandal Magna. Edmund later became a collector of antiquities. He was as different to his father as chalk is to cheese. His collection of historical rings is now in the Kensington Museum. He was fond of a fine life and later became bankrupt and cost the Watertons their home in Walton.

1830s Grove House, The Balk built around this time, or perhaps even in the late 18th century.

1832 Soap works were established by Hodgson and Simpson in Soap House Yard. Pollution soon threatened the surrounding countryside.

1840 North Midland Railway opened. This is the line that runs to the west of the village, crossing School Lane and then on to Oakenshaw Junction. It was later expanded to two tracks, but is now back down to one. It is now used as a freight line and for testing, e.g. the new Virgin trains.

1846 Charles Waterton and Sir William Pilkington both complained of fumes from the salt-cake furnace at the soap works affecting their estates (Walton and Chevet respectively). Also Lumb and Matthewman (local farmers) complained that local drinking water was unfit for cattle due to polluted drains across their lands. Many trees died in Walton Park.

1846-9 After a series of inconclusive court cases, it was decided to move the premises of the soap works to Thornes, Wakefield. This was land owned by the Watertons. The soap works continued to pollute and provide employment in Wakefield for many years.

1850 The buildings in Soap House Yard were sold. Now this area is a residential courtyard.

1856 The Methodist Chapel in Shay Lane was built, with considerable encouragement from Mr Simpson of Soap House fame.

In 1857, Miss Mary Pilkington of Chevet Hall opened a new National School on the site of the present day Junior School. In 1871, she founded her Training, Laundry and Cooking School, across the road in the two cottages, built in 1867 for this purpose, that are now known as Manor House and Bridge House. Following the establishment of the National School, the earlier schools declined and closed. Mary Pilkington was a relative of Catherine Nevile. Chevet Hall was later owned by Wakefield Council, who demolished it.

1862 For a while, the Shay Lane school by Walton House (Walton Manor) was occupied by the schoolmaster, paying 6d (six 'old' pence, equivalent to 2.5 'new' pence) per annum to Charles Waterton (the Squire), the owner. However, the building became a ruin and it was abandoned. There being no trustees to claim an interest in the old school, Squire Waterton demolished the building and reclaimed the site.

26/05/1865 'Squire' Charles Waterton fell over a log of wood at the head of the Lake, resulting in him sustaining fractured ribs and an injured liver. He died the following day. His body was interred on 3rd June, his birthday, near the spot where the mishap occurred. A stone cross marks the place where he fell. The area is now overgrown but peaceful.

1870s Three local coal companies were seeking to mine coal: Walton Coal Company, Chevet Company and Hare Park Coal Company. These were not successful and went into liquidation towards 1880, never having worked coal.

1871 Miss Mary Pilkington established a laundry next to the school in School Lane "to prepare girls for service". The building is now two semi-detached residences: Bridge House and Manor House.

1876 Walton Hall and Park was sold by the spendthrift Edmund Waterton to Edward Simpson for £114,000. Thus Walton Hall fell into the hands of the Squire's enemies, the Simpsons. Edward Simpson also owned several cottages and four principal residences at that time: Walton Hall, Walton House (now Walton Manor), Grove House, Thornhill House (now demolished), and the site of a fifth, Walton Grange. The price of Walton Hall had been inflated because it was thought that workable deposits of coal could be extracted from Walton Park. Having failed to destroy the Park with their soap works, the Simpsons would now seem to be wanting to dig it up in the search for coal. This, fortunately, did not happen.

1880 A murder was committed in the village. Tom and Hannah Beckett lived in a two-roomed house in Soap House Yard. On his return from work as a farm hand Tom found his wife about to go out with her lover, Harry Ogden from Newmillerdam. After an argument he cut her throat with a razor and then his own. They were found later by the lodger, Mr Marshall. Tom Beckett later recovered in Clayton Hospital to eventually faith the consequences of his violent crime, but his wife had paid a high price for being unfaithful and was reported dead at the scene.

1892 A water supply was laid to the village, and the wells fell into disuse.

1896 The Methodist Chapel was enlarged.

1903 Plans were put forward to close Miss Pilkington’s laundry.

1906 A decision was made to build a new school (the present school in School Lane).

1910 Methodist Sunday School opened.

1911 New school in School Lane opened.

1923 Railway became part of the London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS).

1940 Walton Hall started to be used as a Maternity Hospital.

07/12/1950 Barnsley Canal - the last boat passed Royston Bridge (south of Walton).

1950s Thornhill Estate built (Thornhill House having been demolished).

10/06/1952 Barnsley Canal - the last boat used Heath Lock.

1953 Final abandonment warrant for the Barnsley Canal issued.

1954 Bus shelters installed around the village, some are a mixed blessing, perhaps.

1956 Soap House Bridge was demolished. It was something of an accident black spot.

22/04/1959 Walton Colliery Disaster - this cost the lives of 5 men. A plaque at the Millennium Gate commemorates this tragedy.

1964 Miners Welfare Club officially opened (now the Walton Sports and Social Club).

1966 Church Hall in School Lane was bought for use as a Village Hall. The Library Committee later bought the Village Institute.

1967 St Paul’s Church completed at a cost of £12,000. It replaced a ‘tin’ structure on The Balk which had been used for the previous 60 years. Work on extending the church took place in 2001.

1969 A plan was put forward by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to use Walton Hall for a Natural History Museum. It was also hoped to lease part of the canal for conservation in a nature trail for children in conjunction with the project.

1974 Applications by Private Enterprise (Walton Park Development Company) to convert the Hall, Park and Lake into a Leisure Centre and Outdoor Pursuits Centre. This was rejected because it was thought that Walton residents would not benefit from a club which would be exclusive and expensive to join. Walton Action Group pointed out that the additional weight of traffic on inadequate roads would harm trees and wildlife, destroy farmland and lead to devalued property. A familiar sounding argument to that put forward when development of houses on Grove House Farm and a golf course was proposed in the 1990s.

1977 Walton Infant School, The Grove, opened.

1980 Walton Colliery closed. Later transformed into a nature park.

1986 - 1989 Lakeland Way and High Meadows developments built. Lakeland Way had been used by West Yorkshire Police for training their horses.

1990s Grove House Farm houses built. It had been a working farm until this time.

1990s Waterton Park Golf Course opened in Walton Park, with club house on the Avenue by the canal. There is still public access to much of Walton Park.

1999 Walton Locks houses built on site of Barnsley Canal, between the New Inn and Walton Social Club.

2000 Two houses built on land formerly belonging to Grove House, The Balk. Medical centre adjacent to the village hall in School Lane is closed, and a private residence is built on the site. The Millennium Clock is added to the village hall. The Millennium Gate is officially opened on 24th June 2000.

2001 St Paul's Church, The Balk extended.

2003 Change of landlord in the New Inn.